If children do not attend school regularly, they may not be able to keep up with school work. In a busy school day it is difficult for schools to find the extra time to help a child catch up. If a child misses just five days each term over all the years he or she is at school, this is equivalent to missing one whole school year.

By law, all children of compulsory school age (between 5 and 16) must get a suitable, full-time education. As a parent, you are responsible for making sure this happens, either by registering your child at a school or by making other arrangements which provide a suitable full-time education .

Once your child is registered at a school you are responsible for making sure he or she attends regularly. If your child fails to attend regularly – even if they miss school without you knowing – the Attendance Service may take legal action against you. You run the risk of being issued with a penalty notice or being taken to court

You should not expect your child’s school to agree to an absence for a holiday in term time. Taking a holiday during term time means that children miss important school time – both educationally and for other school activities. It will be difficult for them to catch up on work later on. Parents do not have a legal right to take children out of school on holiday.

If you have any queries on this service, please refer to the guide for parents.